Epupa Meeting Delayed

A long–delayed meeting between Namibia and Angola to decide the fate of the Epupa hydropower project, scheduled for early July, was postponed after officials from Angola did not show up. The Namibian reported on July 8: "The ongoing war in Angola has been blamed for the officials’ failure to arrive for the key two–day meeting, which is scheduled to discuss crucial differences between the two countries on the energy project." The meeting has already been postponed several times. Angolan officials have not rescheduled.<--break->

The two countries are at odds over where to build the dam on the Kunene River. The Angolans favor the Baynes option, whereas Namibia wants a dam at Epupa Falls – a project that would drown the scenic oasis and create a 380–sq.–km. reservoir with its 163–meter–high dam. The Himba people, who would be badly impacted by the project, have stated they are against either of the dam options.

"The Namibian" stated: "The two countries have disagreed about which location should be used for the billion–dollar scheme since last year and there is a strong likelihood that [they] will remain deadlocked on the issue." Angola favors the Baynes site in part because it is more dependent on proper regulation of Gove Dam in Angola’s Central Highlands. The Angolans want to use the construction of the Epupa project to help them get funding to repair Gove which was damaged in the country’s civil war. Namibia is adamant that the project should be built at Epupa Falls.

While government officials in Namibia continue to press for the Epupa Dam, Namibian citizens continue to raise concerns about the project. In March, the local NGO Earthlife Namibia wrote in the The Namibian: "Earthlife Namibia demands of the Government to recall their plans to construct the Epupa Dam. The disastrous effects on the Himba communities as well as the irreversible ecological damages and high financial risks totally outweigh the alleged socio–economic benefits. The Epupa plans should be abandoned because of Namibia’s reported large reserves of Kudu gas which could satisfy more than our entire electricity requirements, including economic and technological spinoffs." Although the Kudu gas project, which is expected to be able to produce 750 MW for up to 50 years, is moving forward faster than the dam project, dam boosters in the government continue to contend that both projects will be undertaken. (FULL LETTER BELOW)

Wind, Solar Power Are Here To Stay

The renewable Energy Sector in Namibia recently experienced a breakthrough when the Ministry of Mines & Energy announced that 16 wind turbines will be installed at Luderitz under the guidance of NamPower, with a combined output of about 10 Megawatts. This should effectively cover the electricity demand of Luderitz, which has developed into the economic powerhouse of the South.

Furthermore the Government’s Energy White Paper, which had been finalised just under a year ago, states other forms of energy when assessing their financial, economic and social costs and benefits."

• "Government will ensure that institutional and planning frameworks treat renewable energy on an equal footing with other forms of energy when assessing their financial, economic and social costs and benefits."
• "Government will facilitate adequate financing schemes for renewable energy applications, and will encourage government agencies,investors and users to make decisions based on life cycles costs of alternative energy options."
• "Government will promote the use of economically viable renewable technologies, as a complement to grid electrification, to improve energy provisions to rural areas."
• "Government will ensure that funds are made available for rural electrification which will be allocated between grid and off–grid energy supply options, on the bases of their relative social and economic costs and benefits."

The vision portrayed by our Government and utilities such as NamPower is on par with a global drive towards truly sustainable future and the generations to follow will thank them.

Similarly in South Africa, a joint effort by Eskom ad Shell has started with a 30 000 Houses Solar Electrification Programme.

There are dedicated Renewable Energy Information Networks in South Africa, Botswanan, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and of course Namibia that, under severe financial constraints and mostly due to personal vigilance, are compiling and disseminating information, coordinating efforts and sharing experiences in the field of renewable energy and related projects.

The Namibia Development Corporation, under the auspices of the Ministry of Mines & Energy, makes a loan scheme available to our rural people which allows them to purchase Solar Home Systems. The interest rate is 5 per cent and the payback period is as much as 5 years.

People, enterprises and organisation concerned with the protection and preservation of our environment have long since agreed that renewable energy and a sustainable lifestyle are the only possible solutions to desertification, poverty and land degradation.

Now, three comes the effrontery:

Some gentleman via national television allegedly made the dismissive remark to the provide for our needs within the next 30 years. He made this statement, while trying to support the construction of the Epupa Hydroelectric Scheme which, according to him, will commence within this year.

I did not see this television broadcast and have no idea who this gentleman is so I will address him as Mr X.

Dear Mr X, are you telling all the people, organisations and Government departments mentioned above that they are wasting theirs and Namibia’s time and money? That a mono–crystalline solar module with 25 years warranty and state–of–the–art wind pumps and turbines are inferior to a dam which is going to flood vast areas of ancestral land, destroy important fish breeding grounds, cost a lot of people their livelihood, will take almost 10 years to fill up with water (water which I might add, that has to come from an unstable and potentially hostile neighbouring country) and will only cost us N$500 million?

Are you saying that we should stop playing around and do some real work for a change? Or better yet, that we should just go home and leave the important issues to you?

Mr X, I realise that my opinion will not give you a sudden flash of consciousness, but I do hope that they will put your name on a big bronze plaque in large bold letter and stick it to the dam so that we can remember who you are. 

Hands Off Epupa

SUNDAY March 14 is the International Day Against Dams And For Rivers, Water And Life. It is a day when all around the world, organisations and individuals find ways of expressing their celebration of rivers or their protest against what is happening to the world rivers.

The Day of Action was inspired by participants at the First International Meeting of people is just. To symbolise our growing unity, we declare that March 14 – the Brazilian Day of Struggle against Dams – will from now on become the International Day of Action against Drams and for Rivers, Water and Life.

Earthlife Namibia demands of the Government of Namibia to recall their plans to construct the Epupa dam. The disastrous effects on the Himba communities as well as the irreversible ecological damages and high financial risks totally outweigh the alleged socio–economic benefits. Now that the outcome of the questionable feasibility study is known, a responsible Government should not continue with such plans.

It is Earthlife’s submission that the Epupa plans should be abandoned because of Namibia’s reported large reserves of Kudu gas which could satisfy more than our entire electricity requirements, including economic and technological spinoffs.

According to international experts, estimated costs of large dam projects will have doubled or tripled by the time of completion. Added to this is the fact that it is not proven policy to put all eggs into one basket.

In our arid country it is frightening to learn that daily evaporation from the proposed Epupa dam would equal Windhoek’s daily water consumption or twice the full contents of Hardap dam. This is because of the enormous dam surface of 380 sure kilometres at high water level.

As a result of the apparent disregard of the critique of the "Draft Feasibility Study" Earthlife Namibia intends to organise a public hearing with local and foreign experts on the findings of the "Final Feasibility Study".

In 1992 the Government of Namibia signed the United Nations Convention for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of Ethnic Minority Groups. The intended construction of the Epupa dam against the declared objections of the majority of the Himba communities directly infringes on the rights of minorities. Such fundamental changes to the social structure of the Himba people would have irrevocable adverse consequences.

Earthlife Namibia also appeals to the Government of Angola not to agree to the implementation of this project.

Earthlife Namibia calls on all Namibians to join hundreds of grassroots groups and other around the world to celebrate the International Day of Action against Dams and for Rivers, Water and Life.

Water For Life – Not For Death!

EARTHLIFE NAMIBIA

WINDHOEK

Source: The Namibian, Letters to the Editor section, March 12, 1999.